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Battle of the Milvian Bridge by Giulio Romano Year 312 (CCCXII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantinus and Licinianus (or, less frequently, year 1065 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 312 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Constantine the Great crosses the Cottian Alps with an army (40,000 men) and auxiliaries. He defeats Maxentius in three battles at Turin, Brescia and Verona. Maxentius's most senior commander Ruricius Pompeianus is killed during the fightings.
October 28 – Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine I defeats usurper Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge and becomes the only Roman Emperor in the West. During the battle, he reportedly has a vision of a cross (labarum) with the phrase "in hoc signo vinces" ("In this sign you shall conquer").
October 29 – Constantine I enters Rome, he stages a grand adventus in the city, and is met with popular jubilation. Maxentius' body is fished out of the Tiber and decapitated.
Constantine I forged co-emperor Licinius to a alliance, and offers him his halfsister Constantia in marriage. The Praetorian Guard and Imperial Horse Guard (equites singulares Augusti) are disbanded.
Construction begins on the Arch of Constantine in Rome.
c. 312–315 – Constantine I Addresses the People in the Roman Forum, sculptural relief on the Arch of Constantine, Rome, is made.

Constantine I adopt the words "in hoc signo vinces" as a motto and have the letters X and P (the first letters of the Greek word Christ) emblazoned on the shields of his Roman legions.
The Council of Carthage supports Donatism, which espouses a rigorous application and interpretation of the sacraments. These doctrines will be condemned by the Council of Arles.
Constantine I promotes a policy of state sponsorship of Christianity, perhaps even becoming a Christian himself (see Constantine I and Christianity).